34* 
A L C I P P E N,I G R I F E 0 N S 
(THE CEYLON WREN BABBLER) 
ADULT MALE AND FEMALE 
Length 4.9 to 5.3 Inches; wing 2.15 to 2.3; tail 1.7 to 1.9; middle toe 
and claw .7 to .75; bill to gape-.65 to-.7. FEmales are the smaller of 
the sexes. 
DISTRIBUTION 
This little Wren Babbler, which is the smallest of the Babbling Thrashes 
of Ceylon, was discovered by Bayard in 1B4B, and described oy Blyth. It is 
one of the commonest and most widely distributed of our jungle birds, being 
found throughout the whole island up to the jungle clad summits of the peaks 
of the main range. It is common throughout the Kandyan and Southern hills 
wherever there is either forest, low jungle, or even scrubby copse; the same 
is true of the low country, where even small detached woods, containing any 
underwood at all, are tenanted by it. In some portions of the sea-ooard 
which are clothed with dry arid scrub, such as the South-east and North 
coasts, it is rare; but even here it is to be met with in spots sheltered by 
tall trees from the blazing heat of a tropical sun. It is especially nume¬ 
rous in those portions of the Western and Southern Provinces in which the 
forests contain bamboo undergrowth. 
HABITS 
This modest but active little bird frequents underwood, thickets, and 
tangled jungle in little parties of from six to a dozen in number, feeding 
among fallen leaves which have become lodged among among the bushes, or about 
prostrate trunks of trees, and on the ground Itself, subsisting entirely on 
various insects and their larvae. it kheps up a constant little rattle 
note as it threads its way about the dense undergrowth, dropping perhaps, 
suddenly from a bhanch on to some large Balroo leaf, (Sarcoolinium Longifo- 
lium), ■ with a startling noise, or flitting through matted bamboos across tne 
closely begirt jungle paths, each little member of the troop following its 
mate in true Babbler fashion. 
It is most active in its movements; I have rarely seen it in a state of 
quiescence, except when, in the heat of the day, I have chanced to espy a 
little row seated in close proximity on some horizontal twig or bamboo stalk 
silently feathering themselves after their morning’s exertions in search.of 
food. They display much inquisitiveness, flitting round anyone who may be 
